ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND.

Dark night has enfolded her mantle around me, And the brightness of day to oblivion consign’d No more the wild influence of passions confound me, They have fled, and tranquility reigns o’er my mind. All nature reposed, at this moment is sleeping, And man has forgotten the turmoils of care, Ev’n mem’ry, entranced, o’er past happiness weeping, In the “semblance of death” imaged raptures may share. Calm solitude’s power o’er my bosom is stealing, In whispers of peace, its monition addres’t, Arouses each pure spark of genuine feeling, Allays every passion that ruffled my breast: To the bright climes of fancy, where flowers ever blossom, On the wild wing of thought, I would hurry my flight, Shake off every sorrow that weighs on my bosom, And roam with pure spirits in regions of light. Indulging each sweet intelectual pleasure, That fancy’s bright dream, upon man can bestow, Could I taste of the joy, in its rapturous measure, Without you to share it? believe me ah no! Tho’ fancy may yield her precarious blessing, Tho’ wit may enliven, and talent may glow, ’Tis Friendship alone, all our sorrows redressing, Yields the purest delight that man’s bosom can know.